Divisions & Programs

Resident Labor Force Characteristics: 1950 - 2000

Category	1950	1960	1970	1980	1990	2000
Potential Workers¹	97,268	85,787	82,454	82,461	83,720	89,303
Residents in Labor Force²	50,522	48,126	49,092	52,070	57,151	59,965
Labor Force Participation Rate²	51.9%	56.1%	59.5%	63.1%	68.3%	68.3%
Ratio Workers to Non-Workers	1:1.4	1:1.2	1:1.0	1:0.8	1:0.7	1:0.7
Potential Women Workers³	48,983	43,694	42,496	42,921	43,387	46,125
Women in Labor Force	19,187	19,950	22,632	25,492	28,453	29,691
% Women in Labor Force	39.2%	45.7%	53.3%	59.4%	65.6%	64.4%
Women as % of Total Labor Force	38.0%	41.5%	46.1%	49.0%	49.8%	49.5%
Unemployed Residents	2,984	690	1,959	2,332	2,941	3,668
Civilian Labor Force Unemployment Rate⁴	5.9%	1.4%	4.0%	4.5%	5.2%	6.1%
Potential Workers Not in Labor Force	46,746	37,661	33,362	30,391	26,569	29,338
Residents 16 to 19 Enrolled in School, Not in Labor Force	--	--	--	3,992	3,248	3,262
Residents Enrolled in College⁵	13,545	14,318	18,972	23,403	24,364	26,613
Residents over 65	11,151	12,617	11,700	10,924	9,941	9,282
Noninstitutionalized Residents Unable to Work due to a Disability⁶	3,894	--	1,834	1,951	1,994	2,236
Institutionalized Residents	633	959	1,032	1,061	1,118	505

1. For 1950 and 1960 all figures in this table are based on residents 14 and older, unless otherwise stated. 1970 through 2000 figures are based on residents 16 or older, unless otherwise stated.
2. The Labor Force is composed of all persons, except as noted in footnote 1, who work or are currently seeking work. The Labor Force Participation Rate is the fraction of Potential Workers who belong to the Labor Force.
3. For 1950 and 1960 all figures are based on all female residents 14 and older, unless otherwise stated. 1970 through 2000 figures are based on all female residents 16 or older, unless otherwise stated.
4. The unemployment rate stated here is calculated by comparing the number of unemployed persons detected by the U. S. Census to the civilian labor force, which in the case of Cambridge is slightly smaller than the total labor force. The civilian labor force does not include residents who actively serve as members of the armed forces. Note that the unemployment rate used here differs significantly from the rate devised by the U. S. Department of Labor and the Massachusetts Division of Employment & Training (MA DET), both in how the number is calculated and the result. For example, according to the MA DET, the citywide rate at the time of the 2000 U. S. Census was 1.3%, at the time of 1990 U. S. Census the rate was 3.4%, and in 1980 the annual average was 5.1%. (See page 28 for MA DET rates.)
5. For 1950 the figure reported is Persons Not in Labor Force for reasons "Other and Not Reported." The majority of these persons are assumed to be college students.
6. For 2000 includes persons with an employment disability who are unemployed.

Sources: U. S. Census, Massachusetts Detailed Characteristics, 1950; Massachusetts Social & Economic Population Characteristics, 1960; Characteristics of the Population, Volume 1, Part 23, Massachusetts, 1970; STF1A tape file, 1980; STF1A tape file, 1990; Summary File 1, 2000.

For More Information

For more information about socioeconomic and demographic statistics about Cambridge, please contact Cliff Cook, ccook@cambridgema.gov, Planning Information Manager, at 617/349-4656. The Community Development Department TTY line is 617/349-4621.

Return to Labor and Employment Statistics

Return to Demographic and Socioeconomic Statistics home

Return to Community Development Department home